Can you make a statue from an old photograph?
Usually yes, and often from a single picture. What matters is not how old or how sharp it is, but how much of the face you can actually see.
Matthew
HEAD STATUES
Your face. Printed, finished, and yours to keep.
Send a photo or a scan and we will turn it into a printed bust or figurine — for a gift, a keepsake, an award, or a display piece.
HOW IT WORKS
From a photograph to a physical object.
A statue starts with images. Several photographs from different angles are usually enough — a phone camera is fine, and we will tell you exactly what to send. We build the model, show you a preview before anything is printed, and adjust until it looks like the person. Only then does it go on the printer.
FROM PHOTOS OR A SCAN
Several clear photographs from different angles are usually enough. A 3D scan gives the closest likeness where one is available.
PREVIEW BEFORE PRINTING
You see and approve a render of the model before we commit it to the printer. Changes at that stage cost nothing.
ANY SIZE, ANY FINISH
Desk-sized to display-sized, single colour or hand-painted, matte or polished. The base can be engraved.
PETS AND GROUPS TOO
Not only people — pets, couples and team sets are all common. Multiple subjects can share one base.
SELECTED WORK
Busts, figurines and portrait pieces.
Materials for this category
PLA is the usual choice for statues: it gives the cleanest surface detail of any filament we run, which matters most on a face. For pieces that will live outdoors or in a conservatory we print in ASA instead, since PLA softens in heat and degrades under UV. If your statue is going on a sunny windowsill, tell us and we will pick accordingly.
Compare all materials →Other product categories
QUESTIONS
Head Statues — common questions
What do you need from me to make a statue?
- Photographs. 3DOME Malta needs several clear shots of the head from different angles — front, both profiles, and a three-quarter view on each side — in even light, with hair pushed back from the face. A phone camera is fine. A 3D scan gives a closer likeness if you have access to one, but it is not required.
How much does a custom 3D printed bust cost?
- A desk-sized single-colour bust of around 15 cm typically costs between €90 and €180 at 3DOME Malta. Larger display pieces, hand-painted finishes, multiple subjects on one base and engraved plinths all add to that. You get a fixed price before anything is printed.
How long does a head statue take?
- Usually one to two weeks from approved photographs. Most of that is modelling and your review rather than printing. If you have a fixed date, say so when you enquire and 3DOME Malta will tell you honestly whether it is achievable before taking the order.
Will it actually look like the person?
- You decide that before it is printed. 3DOME Malta sends a render of the finished model for approval, and revisions at that stage are part of the process rather than an extra. Likeness depends heavily on the photographs — the better the angles and lighting you send, the closer the result.
Can you make statues of pets, couples or a whole team?
- Yes. Pets are a common request and work the same way as people. Couples and groups can share a single base or be produced as separate pieces that sit together. Photographs are needed for each subject.
FROM THE BLOG
Before you commission a bust
How to photograph someone for a 3D printed bust
Eight photographs, ten minutes and a phone. What to shoot, what to avoid, and why the lighting matters more than the camera.
Matthew
How much detail can a 3D printed bust capture?
Enough for the piece to be unmistakably someone. Not enough to read a wristwatch. Here is where the line falls, and why it moves with size.
Matthew
Want a statue made?
Send us a few photos and tell us the occasion. We will come back with a size, a price and a preview.